All Lake Simcoe Region conservation areas closed to public

'Our work is non-essential and our staff have to stay home'

Yorkregion.com
March 25, 2020
Sheila

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority decided March 24 to close all 19 of its conservation areas effective immediately until further notice. - Miriam King

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority decided March 24 to close all 19 of its conservation areas effective immediately until further notice.

The conservation authority, which covers a large part of northern York Region and parts of communities to the north, east and west, made the announcement March 24 after Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered all non-essential stores and services to close in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

"Our work is non-essential and our staff have to stay home," Mike Walters, chief administrative officer of LSRCA, said. "We’ll no longer be able to maintain the trails and hazard trees."

He said the parking lots will be closed to the public and barricades will be placed on the roadways to block off any traffic.

The public is asked to respect these closures and stay out of the conservation areas for their own safety, according to a news release from LSRCA.

Several of the closed conservation areas are situated in northern York Region, including Thornton Bales in King, Rogers Reservoir in East Gwillimbury, Whitchurch in Whitchurch-Stouffville, and Sheppard’s Bush in Aurora.

A full list of which properties are included in the closure can be can be found online.

"We have no choice," Brian Kemp, general manager of conservation lands, said in the news release. "It’s a matter of public safety. We have not made this decision lightly, but we are doing what is in the best interest of our watershed community."

The conservation areas within the Lake Simcoe watershed are usually popular destinations for a variety of outdoor activities including cycling, hiking and camping.

Over the past week, these areas saw many of visitors despite social distancing advisement, Walters said.

It was difficult to maintain the two-meter distance given the limited space in some of the parking lots, he noted.

The news release recommended a few things for the public to do in these difficult times, such as walking in their neighbourhoods and visiting local libraries' website and online services.